Options offered for Jefferson Co. budget

February 16, 2013

CHARLES TOWN - Commissioners in Jefferson County were presented with seven different budget options for the fiscal year 2013-2014. The commission will hold workshops over the coming weeks to determine the final budget.

According to Paul Shroyer, the county's finance director, the finalized budget is due March 28, and he would like the county to have it finished by March 15.

"We are projecting a cash carryover June 30 of $3.8 million and we are projected revenues for the 2013-2014 year of $21.7 million. Basic expenses for county operations are $21.198 million that would leave end of year cash at $4.4 million," Shroyer said Thursday.

In order to have the remaining balance of $4.4 million there would be no cost of living increases, raises, costs to cover the rising cost of insurance or funding for the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency that was requested.

The additional options presented a variety of ways the funds could be divided and what the ending cash balance would be.

Shroyer said the ideal cash carry-over balance is $5 million because it accounts for two months of the county's accounts payable dollars.

Last year the county carried over $4.3 million.

"I would like to see (the carryover) as high as it can be," Shroyer said. "If you get too low on your carry over, it may not happen the first or second month, but down the line if you carry over, say, only $2 million, they are going to have make payroll and they will hold county bills."

Commissioner Walt Pellish said, in theory, the county needs reduce revenues by $1.5 million. That is the approximate amount that is generated from table game dollars, which is currently lumped into the general revenue account to be spent each year.

"Once you starting mixing those dollars in with the general revenues, as was done with video lottery money, you become dependent upon those dollars," Pellish said, citing the recent passage of Question 7 in Maryland and its potential effects on the table-game revenue.

The options vary in ranges of carry-over dollars. For example, Option 4 funds the JCESA request, pays for the county employee insurance costs, but includes no cost of living increase or raises. The total carry-over ends at $2.2 million.

"The carry-over is what's important, because we have to meet the payroll costs," Commissioner Lyn Widmyer said. "We have to have enough banked to carry us through."

The commissioners will continue the discussion at a budget workshop next Wednesday morning, and will meet with the department heads of the various county organizations to discuss the budget requests.